Russian draft resolution on Ukraine passed by UN Security Council

The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to approve a Russia-drafted resolution to support the Minsk agreements, reached by the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine last week.

The resolution was submitted to the
UNSC by Russia on February 13, a day after the Minsk deal was
agreed on. It is aimed at endorsing and executing the Minsk
agreements. The document also expresses concern over the
continuing violence in eastern Ukraine, and stresses the
importance of resolving the conflict peacefully.

“After the
unprecedented diplomatic efforts last week, Ukraine has a chance
to turn a dramatic page in its history,” said Russia’s UN
envoy Vitaly Churkin, who expressed “gratitude” towards
the other parties for endorsing the document.

Moscow would aid “in full” the realization of the
agreement, he added.

The resolution calls for a “total ceasefire” and a
“political solution” that respects the “sovereignty,
independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.

Despite the unanimous vote on the resolution, a number of UN
Security Council delegations keep selectively interpreting the
new Minsk agreement, Churkin said.

“We are disappointed with the discussion, because some of our
colleagues have gone on the usual rhetoric route, often the
rhetoric was not harmless. Especially harmful in the present
circumstances is an attempt to rewrite the Minsk agreement,”
the Russian diplomat told the council.

Churkin urged the warring parties in Ukraine to create proper
security conditions for the OSCE monitoring mission in the
conflict zone and Debaltsevo, in particular.

“It is because of the continued shelling of cities, that the
Minsk Agreement of September did not last as originally planned.
Indeed, the OSCE observers should work including in the area of
Debaltsevo, but in order to do so, they must be provided with
security. We all have to remember that these are unarmed people,
although in armored vehicles, but still without certain security
conditions, it is difficult to expect that they will be able to
effectively control something there,” said Churkin.

During the heated debate in the chamber, Churkin repeatedly urged
the Ukrainian side to enter into dialogue with representatives of
its own country’s east – instead of constantly blaming Moscow for
interfering the conflict.

“You just cannot establish this dialogue! This is why we keep
telling you: Start the dialogue with the residents of the east.
And you say that we are interfering... and then we are getting
asked: What do they want, the people of the east? Well, they want
federalization. Find a dialogue!” Churkin said in rebuttal
to his Ukrainian colleague.

The debate with his Latvian and Ukrainian counterparts became so
tense that Churkin had to ask the chair of the meeting to calm
down the other members. The Russian envoy meanwhile took time to
stress that in fact it is irrelevant where the demarcation line
will stretch, as long that the sides are talking about the
“reintegration of Ukrainian territory.”

“Are you planning to demarcate a state border there?! Well,
let’s demarcate a border then, and look differently at this
issue,” Churkin said rhetorically.

The Russian diplomat urged all parties involved to interpret the
Minsk agreement “letter by letter” in order for the
ceasefire to last.

The plan, hammered out during 16-hour negotiations on February
12, stipulates the comprehensive ceasefire, the withdrawal of
heavy weapons from the frontline, an all-for-all prisoner
exchange, and passage for humanitarian aid convoys.

In the medium turn, the Minsk peace plan calls for the withdrawal
of any “foreign troops” and “mercenaries” from
the conflict zone, general amnesty for the rebels and the OSCE
using its drone fleet and monitors on the ground to ensure the
implementation of agreements. It also provides for handing back
of the border controls of the Ukrainian government, and lifting
of the economic blockade that Kiev imposed on the eastern
regions.

Eventually, the treaty
proposes new elections in eastern Ukraine and a decentralization
that would grant more power to the rebel regions.